“This kind of thing needs to be stopped before it gets worse,” commented another.

One man described the incident as a potential “nightmare” scenario.

“A few of these needles were found in the Bligh’s Lane area a few weeks ago in peoples’ gardens - this sort of thing must be stopped before a child gets pricked with one of these dirty needles - everyone’s nightmare,” he said on Facebook.

Another man was quick to slam the person responsible for discarding the needle when he said: “Not only putting themselves in danger, but the others around them... the children in particular. Disgrace.”